The surface is pleasantly smooth and easy to wipe off. It is perfectly clean even after months of use. It forms (at least for me) no welding, so that cleaning is rarely necessary. Overall, much better than any fabric surface.
The gel filling has just the right hardness. The bottom is very rough, so that the pad does not slip. I think even it firmly to zoom roll in the chair at the desk :-) Nevertheless it leaves no residue on the table.
Abandoning a "built-in" mouse pad is a clear advantage, provided that the mouse works directly on the table (if necessary on laser upgrade). I use the version with mousepad at the office, and one often gets stuck with the mouse at the edge of the mouse pad.
The material makes a high-quality impression, it does not smell. If the adhesive force of the bottom eventually wears off (which happens when you frequently move the pad on the table and dust accumulates below), simply rinse and then do not wipe, but let air dry.
Definitely a marked improvement in ergonomics!